Jeremiah Smith may be the headliner in Columbus, but Devin McCuin is the Ohio State receiver Saints fans should be keeping on their radar.
McCuin arrived at Ohio State this offseason after three years at UTSA, where he put together a strong run with the Roadrunners. In that stretch, he caught 146 passes for 1,619 yards and 16 touchdowns. Now he’s stepping into a bigger spotlight as a complementary piece alongside Smith in the Buckeyes’ offense.
The trait that jumps out first is his burst. McCuin gets off the line with real violence, hits top speed fast, and can threaten a defense over the top. He’s been estimated as a 4.35-second 40-yard dash type, and his ball-tracking makes him dangerous enough that defenses may have to tilt a safety his way.
But he’s not just a straight-line burner. McCuin also brings a sharp feel as a route runner, showing the kind of IQ that lets him stem defenders and work their leverage. Against zone, he’s at his best, settling into soft spots and throttling down at the right time.
The speed shows up after the catch too. McCuin’s quickness and evasiveness make him tough to bring down, and that’s what gives him real value on screens and manufactured touches. Give him one clean cut, and a routine play can turn into a chunk gain in a hurry.
The big test is man coverage. He was able to separate in the AAC, but the Big 10 and the NFL ask different questions. His limited snaps against power-four competition left some doubts there, and proving he can win consistently against better defenders is the key to pushing himself into day-two draft territory.
That’s why he’s an interesting name for New Orleans. The Saints have a receiver group with talent, but health remains a concern.
Chris Olave is a bona fide star when healthy, though he’s had trouble staying on the field during his career, even if he did play all 17 games last year. And 2026 eighth-overall pick Jordyn Tyson is already on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
If those issues continue, receiver could be a spot the Saints have to revisit next offseason.
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John Harbaugh has already made it clear the Giants will sort out playing time by performance, not by salary, and that leaves Adebo in a familiar prove-it spot. He was not listed as a starter on the Week 1 depth chart in his second season, which only adds to the uncertainty around how prominent a role hell have as New York tries to sort out its secondary. [Read more 🡒]